It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
